Sweetheart

Love only has ever been, is, and will ever be, So — E.E. Cummings

I have your sweetheart ring. 
Its tiny military wings; a promise. 
Your passport photo lives in my wallet, your words 
never stop learning in my head. I kept your letter — 
the one that delivered news of my step-mother: the wicked witch 
has flown off on a westerly wind. I traced the words into a sigil 
burnt my fingertips in the process. Much good it did us. 
He followed her there and was never seen again. 
I bought a sweater vest to be just like you
often, I do the crossword; I hardly ever find the right words
eat the odd Eccles cake, even though the tangy fruit 
makes me gip, visit Blind Jacks, drink where you
used to sit. I look at your old home on Rightmove 
far more than I’d like to admit. 

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my paternal grandparents

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thank you for reading x

a special thank you to the lovely JC for edits 🖤